Explosive and complex with a supple texture, this has a real wow factor. The nose is expressive and loaded with plum, black cherry, black tea, spice, and anise notes. The flavors are focused on dark red berries, spices, and leather... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay Drum Canyon Vineyard is impressive. Rich, dense and expansive, this is another terrific example of how compelling Chardonnay can be in the Sta. Rita Hills. Tangerine oil, lemon confit, mint, honeysuckle and... Read More
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is terrific, offering classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and sappy flower notes. As with the Boisrenard release, this has plenty of tannins and structure, but it’s... Read More
Not as rich or concentrated as I was expecting, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes still delivers ample layers of dark fruit, hints of cola, mint and spice elements. It's full-bodied, silky and long, but it looks... Read More
Pretty if restrained aromas are comprised by notes of red and dark currant, newly turned earth, orange peel and a vague floral wisp. There is excellent detail and vibrancy to the delicious if not especially dense flavors that... Read More
Ripe and appealingly fresh aromas of red and dark cherry coulis enjoy top notes of various spices and violet. The super-sleek, intense and beautifully well-detailed middle weight flavors deliver very fine length on the dusty,... Read More
A mentholated top note is present on the even spicier and slightly more floral-suffused aromas of airy dark berries, sandalwood and jasmine tea. The lacy, even lilting, flavors also exude a subtle bead of minerality on the nicely... Read More
A slightly more elegant nose features notes of poached plum, black raspberry, violet and anise hints. There is a notably finer mouthfeel to the attractively textured medium weight flavors that conclude in a firmer and better-balanced... Read More
A subtle application of wood is present on the slightly more deeply pitched nose of cassis, black raspberry liqueur and exotic tea scents. The sleek, intense and more precise medium-bodied flavors exude a subtle minerality on... Read More
A perfumed and exceptionally pretty nose combines notes of dark raspberry, exotic tea and a broad range of floral elements. The succulent, refined and admirably punchy medium weight plus flavors possess excellent delineation and... Read More
A deft application of wood sets off agreeably spicy and earthy aromas of black raspberry liqueur and discreet smoky wisps. The supple, fleshy and rounded medium-bodied flavors possess better mid-palate density if not the same... Read More
A spicy and relatively high-toned nose features notes of various red berries, plum and a hint of exotic tea. Once again there is a really lovely texture to the nicely tension-filled medium weight flavors that exude evident minerality... Read More
Decidedly cool, pure and wafting aromas of red and dark pinot fruit are exuberantly spicy and beautifully elegant while displaying lovely layering. The round and utterly delicious medium weight flavors possess a bit more volume... Read More
Here the expressive nose is more elegant than it usually is with its pretty extract of black pinot fruit, soft earth, violet and rose petal scents. The lilting but impressively punchy medium-bodied flavors retain excellent delineation... Read More
The pure, super-elegant and airy nose displays its array of plum, red and dark currant, spice and pretty floral wisps. The notably finer if less powerful and muscular middle weight flavors also possess both lovely detail and punch,... Read More
A wonderfully spicy nose offers up its aromas of both red and dark raspberry, violet and soft floral nuances. There is once again a lovely texture along with fine detail to the more refined middle weight flavors that deliver very... Read More
The 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Lieu-Dit Clavin is a pretty, elegant, medium-bodied effort that shows the classy style of this estate. More blue fruits, cherries, licorice, and peppery notes define the nose, and it has fine... Read More